What Does A Solar Energy Installation Manager Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Solar Energy Installation Managers

Solar Energy Installation Managers direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.

Salary
$72990
Becoming One
Medium
Education
Post-secondary certificate
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Solar Energy Installation Managers direct work crews installing residential or commercial solar photovoltaic or thermal systems.

  • Supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.
  • Estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects.
  • Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
  • Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Solar Energy Installation Managers estimate materials, equipment, and personnel needed for residential or commercial solar installation projects. They supervise solar installers, technicians, and subcontractors for solar installation projects to ensure compliance with safety standards.

A typical day for a Solar Energy Installation Manager will also include:

  • Provide technical assistance to installers, technicians, or other solar professionals in areas such as solar electric systems, solar thermal systems, electrical systems, or mechanical systems.
  • Prepare solar installation project proposals, quotes, budgets, or schedules.
  • Plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.
  • Identify means to reduce costs, minimize risks, or increase the efficiency of solar installation projects.
  • Monitor work of contractors and subcontractors to ensure projects conform to plans, specifications, schedules, or budgets.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Solar Energy Installation Managers also purchase or rent equipment for solar energy system installation. They may also coordinate or schedule building inspections for solar installation projects.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Solar Energy Installation Managers evaluate subcontractors or subcontractor bids for quality, cost, and reliability. They might also visit customer sites to determine solar system needs, requirements, or specifications.

In addition, they assess system performance or functionality at the system, subsystem, and component levels.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them plan and coordinate installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar and solar thermal systems to ensure conformance to codes.

To some Solar Energy Installation Managers, it is also their responsibility to perform start-up of systems for testing or customer implementation.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Average

63% said they were satisfied with their job and 56% said they found their job meaningful.


Key responsibilities Key responsibilities include making sure that the modules are installed in line with a method statement. The method statement typically includes all the information from the module manufacturer in terms of storage, handling, and fixing onto the mounting structures. As a supervisor, your responsibility is to ensure that the modules are installed correctly … Read More


HCB Solar

A typical day at work for me involves meeting residential and commercial clients and creating quotes to suit their specific needs, or managing our existing projects. This means following up inquiries, creating proposals, checking in with staff on current projects, and delegating work as needed to keep sales and projects operating smoothly. Key responsibilities My … Read More


Pros

Suitable for people who like to start and carry out projects.

Suitable for people who value achievements and are results-oriented.

This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.

It is not too difficult to get into this career. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to work with designs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$72990 per year

Average hourly wage

$35 per hour

Entry-level Solar Energy Installation Managers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $43,570 to $54,270 per year or $21 to $26 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $109,980 $53
Senior (Top 25%) $87,570 $42
Median $67,840 $33
Junior (Bottom 25%) $54,270 $26
No experience (Bottom 10%) $43,570 $21

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
6%

40 hours
44%

More than 40 hours
50%

Working schedule

55%

45%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
34%

Every day
50%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
10%

Every day
60%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
14%

Every day
86%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
28%

Once a year
39%

Once a month
25%

Once a week
9%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
1%

Slightly competitive
18%

Moderately competitive
36%

Highly competitive
33%

Extremely competitive
13%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
16%

Once a year or more
7%

Once a month or more
29%

Once a week or more
24%

Every day
24%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
16%

Once a year or more
15%

Once a month or more
44%

Once a week or more
8%

Every day
16%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
0%

Once a year or more
0%

Once a month or more
8%

Once a week or more
41%

Every day
51%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
17%

Once a year or more
11%

Once a month or more
34%

Once a week or more
26%

Every day
12%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Medium
You will need previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an Associate’s degree, and one or two years of on-the-job training. Similar careers include Travel Agents, Agricultural Technicians, Court Reports, and Medical Assistants.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
7%

High School Diploma or equivalent
10%

Post-Secondary Certificate
36%

Some College Courses
20%

Associate’s Degree or similar
16%

Bachelor’s Degree
6%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
4%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

No majors found

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
0%

3 to 6 months
1%

6 months to 1 year
16%

1 to 2 years
22%

2 to 4 years
28%

4 to 6 years
20%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
9%

Over 10 years
4%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
0%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
6%

3 to 6 months
21%

6 months to 1 year
28%

1 to 2 years
38%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
7%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Leader

People with this personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.

The Builder
62%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
33%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
19%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
33%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
95%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
43%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like starting up and carrying out projects. They like leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk-taking and often deal with business.

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
81%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
71%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
76%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
57%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
52%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
81%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


Don’t know which career to pursue?

Take the career quiz to find careers that match your personality type.

Take The Career Quiz